Little Green Footballs - Lots More Warbots On the Way

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Lots More Warbots On the Way

Fri, May 30, 2008 at 1:13:29 pm PDT

Thousands more warbots are being readied to hit the ground in Iraq.

In December, after all the lawsuits, the private eyes and the backroom deals, iRobot finally wrestled away the biggest ground-robotics contract in military history from its former employee and his secret partner. This “unmanned surge” was worth up to $286 million and 3,000 machines. And it didn’t look like it would be topped any time soon.

But appearances can be deceiving in the world of military robots. Turns out, there’s been a second unmanned surge. And yesterday, iRobot’s rival, Foster-Miller, announced that it had won the contract to supply it.

The five-year deal is worth up to $400 million. And it will cover thousands of Talon bomb-handling robots and spare parts — maybe between 2,000 and 4,000 robots, F-M executive Bob Quinn tells Xconomy.

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Tags: Iraq, Warbots, Robots, Robotics, IED, Talon

132 comments

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Kragar (Proud to be Kafir) Fri, May 30, 2008 1:14:03pm

NO OIL FOR OIL!

Honorary Yooper Fri, May 30, 2008 1:14:56pm

How many more until we have enough for the Trade Federation?

sattv4u2 Fri, May 30, 2008 1:15:06pm

Does Will Smith star in this one too ?

Sharmuta Fri, May 30, 2008 1:16:07pm

God Bless America ingenuity and technology.

Honorary Yooper Fri, May 30, 2008 1:16:22pm

Something more like this?

JammieWearingFool Fri, May 30, 2008 1:17:10pm

Gaffe Man promises to bring the robots home safely.

lawhawk Fri, May 30, 2008 1:17:11pm

re: #2 Honorary Yooper

I'd rather bank on the cloners.

experiencedtraveller Fri, May 30, 2008 1:17:51pm

Foster-Miler owned by QinetiQ

Buy Buy Buy

jorline Fri, May 30, 2008 1:18:22pm

How many more robots have to be destroyed before we pull them out of Iraq?

Do they come in Pink?

Cap'n DOC Fri, May 30, 2008 1:18:32pm

Are those pre-surge or post surge robotic numbers?

/An aside to Mr. Roboto...

experiencedtraveller Fri, May 30, 2008 1:18:53pm

re: #4 Sharmuta

God Bless America ingenuity and technology.

Even when they are owned by the Brits...

Bill Amos Fri, May 30, 2008 1:19:09pm

Man I feel so honored Charles has two stories I placed up on this site in a row !

Thanks for making this such a great site Charles and for sharing credit with others.

Being a lizard means never having to watch your back because all us lizards have 360 degree eyesight.

mama winger Fri, May 30, 2008 1:19:16pm

The more that we can use technology, perhaps the less often we will have to put our soldiers in jeopardy. Wonderful news.

jorline Fri, May 30, 2008 1:19:55pm

Danger Will Robinson, Danger

Occasional Reader Fri, May 30, 2008 1:19:57pm

Jihadists: He'll find you. That's what he does! That's ALL he does!

Occasional Reader Fri, May 30, 2008 1:20:45pm

Roomba is back. And he's pissed.

rabidsquirrel Fri, May 30, 2008 1:21:04pm

Why don't we just send the pusher and shover robots?

Kragar (Proud to be Kafir) Fri, May 30, 2008 1:21:35pm

re: #17 rabidsquirrel

Why don't we just send the pusher and shover robots?

Damn Geneva Convention again

jcm Fri, May 30, 2008 1:21:46pm

We spend time and energy to send robots to war and not men.

The jidahist recruit for Splodydopes kids with Downs Syndrome.

I swear if I hear any more "moral equivalence" arguments it going take a lot of self control not to knock teeth down throats.

NJDhockeyfan Fri, May 30, 2008 1:21:51pm

Life imitating art?

docremulac Fri, May 30, 2008 1:22:08pm

Off topic:
Al Quada releases their vision of the U.S.

NJDhockeyfan Fri, May 30, 2008 1:22:26pm

Trying again.

zmdavid Fri, May 30, 2008 1:22:32pm

How many war robots is Denver buying to deal with the Recreate '68 protests?

The ACLU wants to know.

EC Marm Fri, May 30, 2008 1:22:58pm

"I'm sorry Diyaa Udeen, I'm afraid I can't do that..."

Sharmuta Fri, May 30, 2008 1:23:37pm

re: #11 experiencedtraveller

Says Foster-Miller is based in Massachusetts.

jamgarr Fri, May 30, 2008 1:23:43pm

re: #24 EC Marm

"I'm sorry Diyaa Udeen, I'm afraid I can't do that..."

What? - open the pod bay door?

goddessoftheclassroom Fri, May 30, 2008 1:24:44pm

re: #16 Occasional Reader

Roomba is back. And he's pissed.

ROTFL!

Sifty Fri, May 30, 2008 1:25:02pm

Not quite the 30ft tall Mechwarrior kind I was hoping to see step on Sadr's fat ass, but a good solid start. Baby steps. Baby steps.

When all soldiers are robots, will the Code Skank harpies still call them baby-killers?

Bush lied, hydralics died!

Bill Amos Fri, May 30, 2008 1:25:03pm

How many war robots is Denver buying to deal with the Recreate '68 protests?
The ACLU wants to know.

The ACLU simply wants to know if Denver is going to use AMM (anti Moonbat muntions)

These weapons cause rational and critical thinking which is a threat to insane moonbats everywhere.

Ward Cleaver Fri, May 30, 2008 1:25:14pm

"Secret Partner"? Dr. Evil?

Kragar (Proud to be Kafir) Fri, May 30, 2008 1:25:37pm

re: #23 zmdavid

How many war robots is Denver buying to deal with the Recreate '68 protests?

The ACLU wants to know.

Perhaps we can send these 2 to Denver?

alegrias Fri, May 30, 2008 1:25:42pm

To all of you who work in fields that require human ingenuity to combat 7th century medievality, God bless and thank you for your service.

And to the mostly youngsters serving in the combat zone, seeing the 7th century medievality up close & personal, God speed & protect you.

jorline Fri, May 30, 2008 1:26:11pm

IMHO the robots should be made in the likeness of Porky the Pig. That should freak-out a few jihadist

Ward Cleaver Fri, May 30, 2008 1:26:17pm

re: #16 Occasional Reader

Roomba is back. And he's pissed.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Instead of being a floor sweeper, he'll be a street sweeper.

experiencedtraveller Fri, May 30, 2008 1:27:13pm

re: #25 Sharmuta

Headquarted in USA. Check the ownership...

In September 2004 QinetiQ acquired the U.S. defence companies Westar and Foster-Miller (maker of the Talon robot).

Bill Amos Fri, May 30, 2008 1:27:13pm

BTW to moonbats every where I wish a hearty "Aydee Fic" to them.

Those that read about that horse know what I mean.

Cygnus Fri, May 30, 2008 1:27:15pm

So does mean that we have to recall the badgers now?

Fasternu426 Fri, May 30, 2008 1:27:31pm

I can't wait until they get the T-2000 online and in production!

jcm Fri, May 30, 2008 1:27:44pm

As long as the control network isn't named SkyNet.

Sifty Fri, May 30, 2008 1:27:53pm

Recreate '68 needs a whole Chapter of Space Marines to go postal on their asses.

/geek off

maddogg Fri, May 30, 2008 1:27:58pm

re: #4 Sharmuta

God Bless America ingenuity and technology.

American ingenuity, Chinese labor.

rusty_armor Fri, May 30, 2008 1:28:31pm

It is a nefarious plot by that E V I L Dick Cheney and Halliburton. Everybody knows that ...

EC Marm Fri, May 30, 2008 1:29:13pm

And when the robots come home from combat maybe Obama will let them stay in his attic for six months...

Tigger2005 Fri, May 30, 2008 1:29:46pm

I want our soldiers wearing Starship Trooper suits like from the book.

Sharmuta Fri, May 30, 2008 1:32:18pm

re: #35 experiencedtraveller

OK- well I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that American ingenuity and technology are driving this bot, not the parent company across the pond.

Cygnus Fri, May 30, 2008 1:32:58pm

re: #33 jorline

IMHO the robots should be made in the likeness of Porky the Pig. That should freak-out a few jihadist

Flying Pigs could give air support.

Cygnus Fri, May 30, 2008 1:33:41pm

re: #43 EC Marm

And when the robots come home from combat maybe Obama will let them stay in his attic for six months...

Only the Love Mechas.

jorline Fri, May 30, 2008 1:34:05pm

A quick solution to the WOT

Create 72 virgin robots for each jihadist so they'll quit blowing themselves up along with innocent people. They can hang out in their cave all day, just give them an ample supply of spare parts and a lot of lube-oil...LOL

Dianna Fri, May 30, 2008 1:34:55pm

re: #44 Tigger2005

If they do, it would make up for my age and sex, and I could have a good time, all while fighting jihadis.

I like it.

Wm T Sherman Fri, May 30, 2008 1:34:58pm

Any armed robots in use?

jorline Fri, May 30, 2008 1:36:13pm

re: #46 Cygnus

Flying Pigs could give air support.

LOL...check out my new solution in #48.

DesertSage Fri, May 30, 2008 1:37:45pm

It looks like the surge is working.

nikis-knight Fri, May 30, 2008 1:38:17pm

You know the problem with Al Queda's Robots?

No Surge protector!

Walter E. Wallis Fri, May 30, 2008 1:38:25pm

I can't wait for the first JAG lawyer to try and court martial a warbot.

amphibian Fri, May 30, 2008 1:38:41pm

re: #12 Bill Amos

Being a lizard means never having to watch your back because all us lizards have 360 degree eyesight.

And those neat tongues for cleaning the eyeballs. Or are some of you not geckos? I am only an amphibian after all, and easily confused.

rabidsquirrel Fri, May 30, 2008 1:38:54pm

re: #50 Wm T Sherman

Yes

Pyrocles Fri, May 30, 2008 1:38:55pm

Or nanosuits like in Crysis!

re: #44 Tigger2005

Kragar (Proud to be Kafir) Fri, May 30, 2008 1:39:20pm

re: #50 Wm T Sherman

Any armed robots in use?

The Talon bomb disposal bots are dual-use and can be easily upgraded to SWORDS, but use has been suspended due to them not behaving as expected

Roentgen Fri, May 30, 2008 1:39:26pm

Must-kill-terrorists--must-kill-Iranian-backed-ter rorists!

amphibian Fri, May 30, 2008 1:39:37pm

re: #17 rabidsquirrel

Why don't we just send the pusher and shover robots?

Do not trust the pusher and shover robots.

Killgore Trout Fri, May 30, 2008 1:40:05pm

Hooray for robots!

DesertSage Fri, May 30, 2008 1:41:45pm

I still think that Barack H. Obama is a robot.

amphibian Fri, May 30, 2008 1:41:55pm

re: #32 alegrias

To all of you who work in fields that require human ingenuity to combat 7th century medievality, God bless and thank you for your service.

And to the mostly youngsters serving in the combat zone, seeing the 7th century medievality up close & personal, God speed & protect you.

That's kind of a knee-jerk up-tick.

Cannadian Club Akbar Fri, May 30, 2008 1:41:59pm

Hello Atari, see ya, rat bastards. I love Pong.
/Old guy

sattv4u2 Fri, May 30, 2008 1:42:24pm

Lets just hope they don't program the robots to be Islamophobic, or CAIR will really really be angry!

Killgore Trout Fri, May 30, 2008 1:42:32pm

re: #59 Roentgen

More like this.

Dianna Fri, May 30, 2008 1:49:31pm

re: #74 Killgore Trout

Taste is very much an individual matter, I know, but I can't believe anyone actually likes listening to that.

Ward Cleaver Fri, May 30, 2008 1:49:34pm

re: #78 redstateredneck

I'm an anole.
(click my avatar)

Showing your dewlap.

/i used to keep two as pets

/and a mediterranean gecko, too

Ward Cleaver Fri, May 30, 2008 1:50:14pm

re: #83 Killgore Trout

Another favorite!

One of my favorite YouTube videos.

LeftJustAintRight Fri, May 30, 2008 1:50:19pm

On my looong trip today I had a thought(it hurt too)
Obama has pretty much punked Hillary
Even the MSM has dropped her like a bad date
She has burned a lot of bridges
Could this be the end of the Clintons ?
Obama Hussein has done us all a favor if she is gone
The downfall is Obama Hussein has a shot at POTUS

Cannadian Club Akbar Fri, May 30, 2008 1:50:38pm

re: #84 debutaunt

Scorpion and the Frog. (Or Toad)

Dianna Fri, May 30, 2008 1:50:47pm

re: #79 Cannadian Club Akbar

And it beeped frantically, calling for help, as you wrestled with the door?

Ward Cleaver Fri, May 30, 2008 1:51:22pm

re: #67 tfc3rid

No big deal...

Of course if it DID happen....

What movie did they steal that from? Morons.

Honorary Yooper Fri, May 30, 2008 1:51:23pm

re: #21 docremulac

Off topic:
Al Quada releases their vision of the U.S.

They can't even get their structural engineering straight. If the steel framed buildings in the background have that much damage, there is no way the unreinforced Washington Momument and Capitol Dome should be intact.

Roentgen Fri, May 30, 2008 1:51:27pm

re: #71 Kosh's Shadow

Model XQJ-37 pan sexual nuclear powered roto-plookers.
(Obscure Zappa reference)

Yes, yes!

Kragar (Proud to be Kafir) Fri, May 30, 2008 1:52:03pm

re: #88 Desert Dog

More like this.

I'm thinking one of these

alegrias Fri, May 30, 2008 1:52:28pm

re: #84 debutaunt

I heard that Iran has been helping us out with it.

* * *
Other way around--Jimmy Carter's helping out Iran.

100

Cannadian Club Akbar Fri, May 30, 2008 1:53:58pm

re: #94 Dianna

No, the burrito was hot.
/shame

101

Kragar (Proud to be Kafir) Fri, May 30, 2008 1:55:14pm

re: #100 Cannadian Club Akbar

No, the burrito was hot.
/shame

A burrito in the microwave came out hot? CALL A LAWYER!

102

Dad O' Blondes Fri, May 30, 2008 1:55:25pm

HA!

Those jihadi security force "graduation films" never envisioned American Warbots running after them.

They were too busy dressing up like shrubberies, running around fires, and doing hula hoop tricks. Wait'll they run into some of these bad boyz.

103

rabidsquirrel Fri, May 30, 2008 1:56:05pm

So when we do actually have armed robots (other than UCAVs) racking up enemy body counts, will the left be obligated to adopt a euphamism other than "killbots" for our human soldiers?

104

jorline Fri, May 30, 2008 1:56:08pm

Female robots...remember Cherry 2000?

Youtube Video

105

Cannadian Club Akbar Fri, May 30, 2008 1:57:21pm

re: #101 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

A burrito in the microwave came out hot? CALL A LAWYER!

It isn't good. It was a cigarette burrito.

106

RadicalRon Fri, May 30, 2008 1:57:57pm

Kosling Conspiracy Theory No.____: Overwhelming proof that the Bushchimphitler-Pajamashadeen-Jooooish Conspiracy is going to privatize the military with robots. And this wouldn't be happening if eeeeeevil Ronald Reagan hadn't hallucinated about Star Wars, you know?.
And . . . and . . . and me and Hunter and Kestrel, are, you know, gonna do something cuz this is all the fault of Charles and the Lizards and stuff.

I'd love to see some video of these things in action. It shouldn't be too long before they're engineered to pack heat.

Now, the big question is: What's our folks up to in this regard? Whatever it is, the Moonbats will flame whenever it's rolled out.

107

Cannadian Club Akbar Fri, May 30, 2008 2:01:33pm

I GOT IT! Robot soldiers against trial lawyers!
Sweet.

108

tfc3rid Fri, May 30, 2008 2:01:40pm

re: #96 Honorary Yooper

They can't even get their structural engineering straight. If the steel framed buildings in the background have that much damage, there is no way the unreinforced Washington Momument and Capitol Dome should be intact.

That's why they need to study their engineering here in the States...

109

Dad O' Blondes Fri, May 30, 2008 2:02:16pm

re: #21 docremulac

Off topic:
Al Quada releases their vision of the U.S.

Right. And the NYT will say it was all Bush's fault.

He failed to protect us.
He failed to find Saddm's nukes.
He failed to negotiate with Iran.
He failed to find anything useful even with illegal wiretapping.
His Gitmo policies fostered hate.
His adventure in Iraq made the world more dangerous.
He failed to capture Osama!

Hell, HE FAILED TO FIX THE KITCHEN SINK !

It's all Bush's fault !
.

110

cygnus Fri, May 30, 2008 2:03:38pm

re: #98 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

I'm thinking one of these

There we go.

111

Genosaurer Fri, May 30, 2008 2:03:39pm

I, for one, welcome our new mechanical overlords.

112

Cannadian Club Akbar Fri, May 30, 2008 2:05:09pm

re: #109 Dad O' Blondes

Right. And the NYT will say it was all Bush's fault.

He failed to protect us.
He failed to find Saddm's nukes.
He failed to negotiate with Iran.
He failed to find anything useful even with illegal wiretapping.
His Gitmo policies fostered hate.
His adventure in Iraq made the world more dangerous.
He failed to capture Osama!

Hell, HE FAILED TO FIX THE KITCHEN SINK !

It's all Bush's fault !
.

He failed to win 50% of the vote.
Wait, that was Bubba.

113

Cannadian Club Akbar Fri, May 30, 2008 2:06:44pm

BIG OIL!
BIG OIL!

/drinking a 5 dollar latte

114

HDrepub Fri, May 30, 2008 2:07:21pm

re: #62 DesertSage

I still think that Barack H. Obama is a robot.

I think he is a Jimmy Carter clone, but they screwed up the DNA somehow.

115

Da_Beerfreak Fri, May 30, 2008 2:09:44pm

re: #69 OldLineTexan

Cry "Havoc," and let slip the 'bots of war

Somewhere R. Heinlein is smiling.

// {;-)™

116

cygnus Fri, May 30, 2008 2:11:58pm

It's another Cylon plot!

117

RadicalRon Fri, May 30, 2008 2:29:54pm

Since medals are important for morale, how about something like an R2D2 Chipset of Valor?

118

GOP Goalie Fri, May 30, 2008 2:41:26pm

re: #29 Bill Amos

The ACLU simply wants to know if Denver is going to use AMM (anti Moonbat muntions)

you mean soap?

119

stuiec Fri, May 30, 2008 2:53:47pm

I wonder how much utility there would be in small "high-speed turtle" robots skeetering along the main roads of Iraq, equipped with video cameras and simply looking for people at the roadside planting IEDs. If they patrolled frequently enough, there might not be sufficient windows of opportunity for the bad guys to plant the bombs without being detected -- and of course, anyone messing with a robot could be assumed hostile, and a patrol sent to "talk" to them.

Workable, or useless?

120

stuiec Fri, May 30, 2008 2:58:24pm

re: #106 RadicalRon

I'd love to see some video of these things in action. It shouldn't be too long before they're engineered to pack heat.

Now, the big question is: What's our folks up to in this regard? Whatever it is, the Moonbats will flame whenever it's rolled out.

Try this for some futuristic robotic battlefield fun! Robotic bugs set to invade battlefield.

121

Dar ul Harb Fri, May 30, 2008 3:35:07pm

Before too long in this war, haji will be fighting the Terminator!

122

big L Fri, May 30, 2008 3:41:26pm

"R.U.R"---redux.

123

LEGION Fri, May 30, 2008 4:33:35pm

I say we send in the Killer Tomatoes- ATTACK!

Youtube Video

124

Mr Pancakes Fri, May 30, 2008 7:35:23pm

That's cool,
The company I work for (Amitron Corp) built the prototype circuit board for the Foster-Miller robot project about 9 months ago...... it must have worked!

125

Student of Objectivism Fri, May 30, 2008 9:47:10pm

a good carpet bombing is cheaper than robots

126

Colonel Panik Fri, May 30, 2008 10:43:56pm

re: #119 stuiec

I wonder how much utility there would be in small "high-speed turtle" robots skeetering along the main roads of Iraq, equipped with video cameras and simply looking for people at the roadside planting IEDs. If they patrolled frequently enough, there might not be sufficient windows of opportunity for the bad guys to plant the bombs without being detected -- and of course, anyone messing with a robot could be assumed hostile, and a patrol sent to "talk" to them.

Workable, or useless?

And if you could get the "turtle" to talk to the "hawk" (predator drone) you could really get somethin' going on.

You'd only need a human in the loop for target confirmation.

127

Colonel Panik Fri, May 30, 2008 10:51:57pm

The only downside to military robots is that too many Silicon Valley programmer types are moonbats.

As they move toward arming robots I hope they really do a good job investigating the background of people who program these things.

128

Dotcoman Sat, May 31, 2008 8:17:39am

re: #16 Occasional Reader